By the time most of us reach the age of 50 or 60 we tend to accept the negative effects of aging as a fact of life that we have little or no control over.

It is true that we can not stop the calender from marching ahead at what seems to be a faster and faster pace, however, recent studies have shown that we can alter the rate at which our bodies progress through our life cycle.

We now have a better understanding of why some people tend to age much faster than others.

There is a large body of scientific evidence that suggests that we can slow down and even reverse the symptoms of aging. In fact many of us can be in better health in our 70's than we were in our 50's.

Recent studies indicate that between the ages of 30 & 70 many of the symptoms & conditions that were traditionally associated with normal aging are in fact the result of sedentary lifestyles.

Evaluating one's strength, endurance, mobility & cardio-vascular-pulmonary performance before and after a one month period of complete bed rest can be equated to 30 years of aging.

Studies have shown that regular exercise by middle aged & elderly people can set back the clock 20-40 years when compared to those who do little or no exercise. Test results show that no matter when a person starts to exercise, significant improvement can be achieved.

Older people can achieve the same percentage gains in performance as the young, according to Dr. H.A. deVries, past director of the Andrus Gerontology Center at the University of Southern California and a respected pioneer in the field.

In one study of more than 200 men & women aged 56 to 87, "dramatic changes" were observed after just 6 weeks of exercising 3 to 5 times a week. Study participants became as fit and energetic as people 20 to 30 years younger.

Regardless of our present age, exercise & physical activity is the best thing that we can do for ourselves to counteract the effects of aging.

Dr. Everett L. Smith, director of the Biogerontology Laboratory at the University of Wisconsin has shown that among once sedentary women in their 50's who participated in an aerobic dance program for 6 years, fitness improved by 23% and they experienced none of the functional declines typically seen with increasing age! This group appears to have stopped the clock at an age when functional declines are usually apparent.

Dr. Smith also compared bone loss among women in their 80's. With those women that did seated exercises for 30 minutes, 3 times a week for 3 years, bone mineral actually increased by 2.29%, whereas in a similar group of inactive women, bone loss averaged 3.28%.

Various studies have shown that when our bones are taxed from exercise they grow stronger and denser and more resistant to fracture

Dr. Harris from the Center for the Study of Aging at Albany Medical College, found that when nerve cells are deprived of stimuli they atrophy, suggesting that stimulation of the central nervous system by physical activity may retard the loss of nerve cells in the brain and elsewhere. Aerobic exercise has been shown to enhance blood flow to various parts of the brain as well as to increase the speed with which nerve messages travel through the brain.

In a study, at Purdue, among previously sedentary middle aged men who took part in a 4 month exercise & fitness program, a significant improvement was noted in the mental processes controlled by the part of the brain (left hemisphere) responsible for logical reasoning and math. The men who exercised 3 times per week, were compared on 10 tests of mental ability to a similar group of men who remained sedentary.

In a study recently published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, Older adults who exercised at least three times a week were 38 percent less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease, which causes a slow, irreversible decline in brain function. " The decline the brain experiences late in life is not inevitable. It can be affected by things like habitual exercise," said lead study author Dr. Eric Larson of the Group Health Cooperative in Seattle. The theory is that exercise not only increases blood flow and oxygen to the brain -- it may also reduce the telltale "plaque" in the brain associated with Alzheimer's disease.

Additional Benefits

Aerobic exercise helps control Type II (Late Onset) diabetes because it aids in the metabolism of sucrose.

Aerobic exercise strengthens your heart, helps prevent the build up of cholesterol, improves the functioning of the liver, pancreas & most vital organs.

A recent study at the University of California that evaluated data from more than 5,000 women over the age of 65, concluded that there is scientific evidence that exercise is good for your memory.

Aerobic exercise brings additional oxygen & glucose to the brain, both of which are crucial to brain function. The body responds by forming new capillaries to bring the additional blood to nerve cells and by boosting brain chemicals that protect neurons and strengthen new neuronal connections. Exercise also promotes attention & alertness, both of which are needed to get information into your memory.

Human Growth Hormone and the lack of it is believed to contribute to the aging process. In our 50's most people stop producing HGH and the aging process accelerates as the rate of cellular reproduction, growth and repair slows. The good news is that exercise also aids in the production of Human Growth Hormone which in turn helps us to maintain and develop our muscles, strength and stamina.

Exercise is clearly the best weapon we have to combat disease, to slow down and or reverse the effects of aging. It is no wonder that the experts in the field believe that exercise is the closest thing we have to a Fountain of Youth.

Research has proven how regular exercise relates to the aging process and how it can improve your quality of life.

At Be Fit Over Fifty™ we realize that in order to reap the benefits we must actually exercise on a regular basis. We also believe that our age appropriate, enjoyable and effective exercise programs will help you succeed because it is so convenient & easy to do. There is no expensive equipment to buy, no membership fees, no drugs, no need to even leave the privacy of your own home. "Be Fit Over Fifty programs are like having a personal trainer at home."

Our goal at Be Fit Over Fifty™ is to help adults find a safe, effective, and enjoyable way to exercise at home. The Be Fit Over Fifty™ series of exercise DVD's are designed to meet the varied needs of the mature adult population. All of the programs are fun to do and easy to follow with a soundtrack of upbeat popular music in the background.

When used regularly and in conjunction with a healthy diet the Be Fit Over
Fifty™ programs will help you to control type II diabetes, prevent cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis, lower your blood pressure, relieve stress, and help you to minimize the negative effects that aging can have on the body. You can improve your strength, flexibility, and overall fitness level if you exercise with the appropriate program at least 3 times per week.

If you would like to challenge the aging process and improve your fitness level, Be Fit Over Fifty™ has several programs that can enable you to maintain an active, independent lifestyle. For a description of the programs listed below, just click on the program button.

The Tone & Sculpt program is an excellent 45 minute resistance training program designed to firm & tone all major muscle groups & strengthen your back. This flexible program allows you to vary the intensity to match your comfort level. It is a good choice for those who prefer to use a walking program or another cardio program on alternate days.

The Cardio-Strengthening program is a quick 30 min. workout that combines stretching & low-impact aerobics. This is a good weight bearing exercise program for active adults who prefer to use a separate resistance training program, such as the Tone & Sculpt program on alternate days.

The Personal Fitness program is intended for people who prefer a more gentle, seated program due to knee, back or other weakness. It is well suited for people that are not very active, are older, or overweight.

Personal
Fitness

Customer Comments

Susan,

I have been using your videos for several months now.

Yours are the BEST programs!

I have attempted to use other videos, but with knee and lower back problems,I always ended up injuring myself.

You constantly remind us to make sure we are in the proper format and to not over do it. ... a great way to start off the day :-)

Elaine in West Virginia

Dear Susan

I have been using two of your DVDs (Cardio & the Tone and Sculpt) for the past few months. I just wanted to tell you how much I love the workouts and your guidance!. At 61, I found I was miserable using high impact workout DVDs with obnoxious music.. . . . .
I found Be Fit Over Fifty online and I am thrilled and delighted each time I do your workouts. I find I actually look forward to doing the exercise and always feel better after I finish. This says a lot! .. . . . . the music is great and your style works for me! . . . . .
Thank you so very much for putting together a gentle but vigorous program that is so pleasant to use!

Liza M
Malvern, PA

Dear Susan...

The Interval DVD arrived and I tried it out last night.
(I'm age 53 and in reasonable condition).

It was an amazingly effective workout I thought.

Loved the music and the pacing. Thank you!

Alison
Garden City, NY

I have never found any tapes I actually enjoyed doing until now.
Your instructions are great and I love the music. Thanks !

Karen, Brockton, Massachusetts

BeFitOverFifty has the best workouts for our age group.

Gratefully,
Jo, New Port Richey, FL

Dear Susan,

I wish I had started your program 10 years ago, but never too late! I've passed on your web address to many people and plan also to tell my doctor about your DVDs.

Again, my thanks for being my exercise guide. I feel so much stronger, have more energy, and sleep better than I did before starting your program. Who can ask for more?

Liza

Dear Susan,

I got my (Interval, Cardio & Tone) dvds and have been using them for the last two weeks. THANK YOU!!
They are such a nice blend of strength, flexibility and cardio for me. I love that I am making my knees stronger without stressing them....... It is THE ideal workout for any person who wants to take care of themselves.

Laurie B Colorado Department of Public Health, Denver

I purchased your Tone and Sculpt (DVD).. and am very
pleased with the program.....
I use the program mostly for upper body work and would gladly recommend it

Mike
Albuquerque, NM

Dear Susan,

I have been working with your Personal Fitness video for almost two weeks ....
I am 70 years old and still working ....
I am much stronger than I was 2 weeks ago,....
I give all the credit to my new fitness video.

Thank you very much.
Shirley, Burlington, CT

Dear Susan,

I am 45, and have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis in my hips....
I had to write and tell you how wonderful I feel since using your tape.

Sincerely,
Barbara, Levittown, NY

Susan:

I received your Interval Circuit Program DVD yesterday and watched it last night.....

I now know why you have received so many rave letters from those that have ordered your programs...
Please add my name to that list....
Thank you for again for helping me...

Sincerely,

Jo Toboco
Camarillo, CA

Susan,
I'm ordering (another Interval dvd) for a friend, it's done wonders for me and know it will do the same for her...

Thanks,

Judy S.
Napa, CA

Susan, I give your (Tone & Sculpt & Cardio) DVDs to friends and family members who claim they don't exercise because it's too inconvenient to go to the gym. With your DVDs, there's no excuses!!